Robot toy and mechanism for actuating the same



19, 1965 R. N. CARVER ETAL 3,199,249

ROBOT TOY AND MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING THE SAME s Sheets- Sheet 1 FiledMarch 12, 1962 BY 2 J 0, 1965 R. N. CARVER ETAL 3,199,249

ROBOT TOY AND MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING THE SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 12, 1962 10, 1965 R. N. CARVER ETAL 3,199,249

ROBOT TOY AND MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING THE SAME Filed March 12, 1962 3Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 7

INVENTORS United States Patent SfiiQfl Z-Q R6301 Ti}? ANDlvlZiCHANiSll/l F08 ACTUATENG THE SAli/id Richard N. Carver, Raymond .l.Loin, and flames nritla, Erie, 72s., assigners to Louis Marx 8: Compwy,End, New York, N51,, a corporation of New York Mar. 12, 1962, $21. No.179,175 1 3 @Claiars. (Cl. 46-247) This invention relates to toys, andmore particularly to improved mechanism for the operation of a robottoy.

One robot toy is already renown which is capable of bending over at theWaist, and which has arms which may be moved toward and away from oneanother. The toy also travels, and thus is able to bend over, seize anobject, strai hten up with the ob ect, travel to another point, andthere bend over to deposit and release the object.

The toy here disclosed is of the specified character, and the generalobject of the inverion is to greatly improve the internal mechanism foroperating the toy. A more specific object is to provide such mechanismwhich is well adapted for convenient remote control. Still anotherobject is to pro mechanism suitable for operating a large toy, say twofeet or more in height, by means of iectric motors which are smallinexpensive toy motors which may be energized by ordinary smallflashlight cells at very low voltage.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specificobjects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in thefigure toy elements and their relation one to another as are hereinaftermore particularly described in the following specification. Thespecification is accompar 'ed by drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a figure toy representing a robotembodying features of the invention;

PEG. 2 is a perspective view w'th much of the toy body cut away, andother parts disassembled to show the mechanism inside t e toy;

FIG. 2-A is explanatory of a detail;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the motor means for producingtravel of the toy;

4 is a perspective view showing the steering mechanism of the toydisassembled;

PEG. 5 is a perspective view showing the motor inechanism at the waistof the toy disassembled;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a part of the sameassembled;

G. 7 is a perspective view of the shoulder motor,

l'ally disassembled;

F GS. 8 and 9 are rnentary views drawn to enlarg (1 scale explanatory ofthe operation;

5 G. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section at one shoulder, with the armshanging downward;

PEG. ii is a perspective view looking toward the side opposite thatshown FIG. 7, with the mechanism partly disassembled; and

FIGS. l2, l3 and 14 are schematic views showing how the shoulder motorand associated mechanism turn with the arms of the toy.

Referring to be drawing, and more particularly to 1G. 1, the figure toyhere simulates a robot having a leg portion 12, a torso 14-, a head 16,and arms 18 and 2d. The toy is capable of travel, it being mounted onconealed wheels beneath the feet 22.. it could have a Wall:- rig actionusing separated legs, but in the present case the legs are merelysimulated, and do not actually move relative to one another.

The toy is operated under remote control by means of a hand held remotecontrol unit generally designated 26. This is connected to the rear ofthe toy near the floor by means of a flexible cable The hand held unitin the aliases ice present case has a steering wheel 30 and threereversing switches 52, 34, and 3%. As here constructed these aretiltable; that is, they rock in see-saw fashion, and each is equivalentto two push buttons, one at each end, with one end corresponding toforward, the opposite end to reverse. When released the rockable barreturns to mid position, which is an open circuit position. Each switchis the equivalent of a double pole double throw switch, used to reverseD.C. polarity.

The housing of the hand held unit is dimensioned to receive twoflashlight cells of standard dimension, which are electrically connectedin series. The reversing switch 33 causes forward or rearward travel ofthe toy. The reversing switch 34 causes the torso to bend over orstraighten up to erect position relative to the leg portion of the toy.The reversing switch 32 causes the arms to move toward or away from oneanother. For this reason it is preferably positioned transversely, asshown. The hands 38 preferably have soft pads 49, which may be made of afoam plastic material or foam rubber, so that they readily grasp ancbiect therebetween with adequate friction to lift it and carry it.

Referring now to PEG. 2 of the drawing, there is a first motor which maybe called a travel motor, and which causes movement of the toy along thefloor. There a second motor which may be called a waist motor, and whichcauses bending over of the torso 14 relative to the leg portion 12 abouta horizontal axis or shaft indicated at There is a third motor locatedat e3 which may be termed a shoulder motor, and which causes movement ofthe arms 13 and toward and away from one another.

All three are preferably inexpensive toy or miniature motors using apermanent field magnet, of a type now popularly and widely employed intoys. Such motors are supplied with DC. current for the armature, andare readily reversible simply by reversing the polarity of the D.C.current. Thus, in the present case the flexible cable 28 leading fromthe remote hand held unit may contain siX thin flexible wires, two ofwhich lead to each motor. In addition, the sheath 28, which ispreferably a flexible plastic tube, contains a resilient steel wireacting as a Bowden cable for steering the toy, the longitudinal movementof the wire being produced by turning the steering wheel 30 (FIG. 1) onthe remote control unit.

The mechanism associated with the motor 42 for propelling the toy may bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3 of the drawing. A frame 59,preferably made of sheet metal, is received within the foot portion (22in FIG. 1) of the toy, and extends from front to rear. Only the rearportion is shown in FIG. 3. The frame is considerably narrower than thefoot portion, thus affording ample room for forward and rear wheels,which are mounted outside the frame 50, but which are concealed withinthe foot portion of the toy. In PEG. 3 the small battery operatedreversible motor 42 has a permanent magnet field indicated at 52. Themotor drives a train of high ratio reduction gearing, including a pinion54 meshing with a gear 56 turning a pinion 58 meshing With a gear 649turning a pinion d2 meshing with a gear 6 mounted on a rear axle 66carrying rear wheels 68. One wheel is secured to the axle for rotationtherewith, and acts as the driving wheel, while the other is preferablyfreely rotatable in order not to inhibit travel of the toy on a curvedpath of small radius.

The toy is steered at its front wheels, and the forward end of the frame5% is shown in FIG. 4, referring to which the forward wheels '70 arecarried on pins '72 received in steering knuckles 74-. These act askingpins, the lower ends of which are received in bearing holes 76. Thesteering knuckles have rearwardly extending arms 78 connected by a crosslink 80. The upper ends of the knuckles 74 are rotatably received inbearing holes 82 in a channel shaped part 84 which is secured inposition by means of four tongues 86 received in mating slots 88 in theframe 50.

One of the knuckles receives a steering link 94, this having a squarehole 93 receiving a square part )2 at the upper end of the knuckle.Another link 90 is pivotally connected to link 94, as by means of aneyelet 96, and link 90 receives the free end 100 of the Bowden cablewire.

This is better shown in FIG. 2, reverting to which it will be seen thatthe end of flexible cable sheath 28 is secured in position at 98, andthat the free end 100 of the resilient Bowden-type steering wire isconnected to link 90, which in turn is connected to steering arm 94,which in turn is secured to the upper end of one of the two steeringknuckles.

Although notshown in detail, at the remote hand held unit the shaft ofsteering wheel 30 (FIG. 1) has a radius arm at its inner end, and theBowden cable is connected to this arm, so that the cable is moved1ongitudinally when the arm is turned to a position nearer to or furtherfrom the adjacent end of the hand held casing 26.

The waist motor mechanism may be described with reference to FIGS. and 6of the drawing. Referring to those figures, there is a small batteryoperated reversible electric motor 44, and a train of high ratio speedreduction gearing driven by the motor and terminating in a crank 102.There is also an angle lever 104 on the waist pivot 46 having a pin 108projecting outwardly to the torso. The angle lever is alsolongitudinally slotted at 110 to receive the pin 112 of the crank 102.These parts are shown in assembled relation in FIG. 6 with pin 112 ofcrank 102 received in slot 110 of angle lever 104. An anti-frictionroller may be provided at 111.

Considering FIG. 5 in greater detail, motor 44 drives a pinion 114 whichmeshes with a gear 116 which turns pinion 118 which meshes with a gear120 secured to a pinion 122 which drives a gear 124 secured to a pinion126 which turns a gear 128 on a shaft 130 having a square end 132 whichreceives the square hole in crank 102. Gears 116, 118 are on shaft 117;gears 120, 122 are on shaft 121; and gears 124, 126 are on shaft 125.The motor 44 turns the crank 102 in either direction, and at very slowspeed, but with considerable torque. The relationship of the parts issuch that crank 102 turns approximately one half revolution, and thiscauses the angle lever 104 to turn approximately one quarter revolution.

Reverting briefly to FIG. 2, the waist pivot 46 is long enough to passthrough bearing holes in the upper end of the leg portion 12 and theninto aligned split bearings 106 at the lower end of the torso 14. Caps107 may be applied over the split bearings 106 to close and to betterfinish the same. The outwardly projecting pin 108 isreceived in a matinghole in the lower portion of the torso above the waist pivot 46, andthus serves to turn the torso with the angle lever about the waistpivot. The torso thus may be turned from the upright position shown inFIG. 2, to a forwardly bent position in which the torso is approximatelyhorizontal, at which time the hands 38 of the arms preferably reach thefloor. This presupposes that the arms extend forward when the torso isupright.

Reverting to FIGS. 5 and 6, the mechanism further and importantlyincludes a torsion spring 134 which is bent around the waist pivot 46,and which exerts its torque in that direction which tends to raise thetorso to upright position. In FIG. 6 the end 136 of the spring isanchored beneath a hook 138 forming a part of the motor frame. The otherend 140 of the spring bears against a receptive lug 142, preferably castintegrally with the die cast angle'lever 104.

The torsion spring is important because it makes it possible to use aminiature toy motor 44, even in a toy of large size. The toy here shownis over two feed high, and much more torque is needed to raise the torsothan to lower the same. This difference is aggravated when the handshave grasped a somewhat heavy object to move the same. The torsionspring acts as a counterbalancing or equalizing member which resists theforward bending of the torso, and cornmensurately aids its movement backto erect position.

The motor frame is locked against rotation in the leg portion. In FIG. 2a rod extends in fore and aft direction from the'front wall to the rearwall of the leg portion. It locks the motor frame against rotation aboutthe waist pivot 46. The structure could be inverted, with the motorframe in the torso, and with lever pin 108 connected to the leg portion,but the present arrangement is preferred, for stability, and to lessenthe weight of the torso which must be raised.

The shoulder motor may be described with reference to FIGS. 7-11 of thedrawing. The motor means comprises a small battery-operated reversibleelectric motor 48, and high-ratio speed reduction gearing whichterminates in a double crank 144 with opposed levers 146 and 148. Aconnecting rod 150 extends from lever 146 to one of the arms of the toy,and a similar connecting rod 152 extends from the other lever 148 to theother arm of the toy.

Referring to FIG. 10, the arm 20 is carried by a metal bracket 154secured therein, the assembly being pivoted on a pin 156 for movement ofthe arms toward or away from one another. The bracket 154 has a bearinghole 158 for one end of the connecting rod 150. The bracket 154 is moreclearly shown in FIG. 2, it being formed of sheet metal, and its pivotpin is indicated at 156. The bearing 158 for receiving the connectingrod is also shown in FIG. 2. In the present case the connecting rods aredisposed in front of the pivots, so that the arms and links both moveoutward or inward together. The bracket 154 is received in a matingrecess in the molded arm.

It will be evident that with the crank 144 in the position shown in FIG.8, the connecting rods 150 and 152 are spread apart, thus causingoutward spreading of the arms (18 and 20 in FIG. 1). The motion of thecrank is preferably limited, as by means of a stop 160, which may bebent upward from the motor frame, as shown in FIG. 7. When the crankturns nearly but not quite a half turn to the position shown in FIG. 9,the connecting rods 150 and 152 overlap to bring the arms of the figuretoy together. At this time the linkage itself acts as a motion limitingstop. The coming together of the hands would also act as a stop.

Considering the mechanism in greater detail, FIG. 7 shows the samelooking from the rear, and FIG. 11 looking from the front. The smallbattery-operated reversible permanent-field motor 48 (FIG. 11) turns apinion 162 which meshes with a gear 164. The latter turns a disc 166 ona shaft 168 carrying a Worm 170. This may be made by coiling a wiretightly on shaft 168, as is sometimes done in toy manufacture foreconomy. Worm 170 meshes with a worm gear 172 on an upright shaft.

Referring now to FIG. 7, Worm 168 drives worm gear 172 which has apinion 173 therebeneath, not visible in FIG. 7, which pinion meshes witha gear 174 which is secured to the lower end of a shaft 176, the upperend 'of which carries the previously described double crank 144. It willthus be evident that the crank is turned at slow speed throughhigh-ratio reduction-gearing, thus moving the same with considerabletorque. A gear train which includes a worm and worm gear is preferredfor this motor in order to make the gearing irreversible (except ofcourse by reversing the motor). This has the advantage that when thehands are brought together against an object, they remain tightlygripping that ohsassgeee ject unless and until the motor is operated inreleasing direction. The worm drive provides an automatic lock whichprevents release or relaxation of the grip of the hands, withoutrequiring continued energization of the motor. Instead, a childoperating the toy then may pay attention to the manipulation of theobject and the travel of the toy to another point in the room where theobject is to be deposited.

Reverting to FIG. ll, gear 164 drives worm shaft 1&8 indirectly throughdisc 1%, instead of directly, in order to provide a lost motionconnection. In the present case gear 164 has arcuate slots 13% whichreceive pins 182 on disc 16%. This lost motion helps the low poweredmotor get started when turning in opposite direction. Without the lostmotion connection the previously described locking action of the wormdrive might jam the gear train firmly enough to prevent starting of themotor in reverse direction.

As so far described it has been assumed that the shaft 176 of the doublecrank 144 is upright; that the motor shaft is horizontal; that the torsois erect; and that the arms extend straight forward from the torso.Thus, the pivots of the arms are upright, and the arms move toward oraway from one another in a horizontal plane. However, the arms are notnecessarily fixed in that position and instead may be turned to otherpositions relative to the torso, from a downward hanging position, to araised or overhead position, that is, with the arms generally parallelto the longitudinal axis of the torso. In the present case the range ofmovement is a little more than a half turn, and no motor means isprovided for this movement of the arms. Instead they are frictionallymounted for manual adjustment about a horizontal axis to any desiredangle relative to the torso.

This might greatly complicate the mechanical relation between theshoulder motor and the arms moved thereby, but in the present case suchcomplication is avoided by mounting the motor and its associatedmechanism for bodily movement with the arms about the horizontal axis.Referring to FIG. 12, with the arms extended forward, as shown at 2%,the motor 48 is disposed with its shaft horizontal, and the double crank14% is on a vertical shaft. If the arms are turned ninety degreesdownward, as shown a 2% in FIG. 13, the motor 53 is disposed with itsaxis vertical, and the double crank 3.44 is on a horizontal shaft withthe crank located forward.

If the arms are turned upward, as shown at 2% in FIG. 14, the motor 48and the crank 144 are shifted about one hundred eighty degrees, with thecrank pointed toward the rear of the toy. The two conductors leading tothe motor are thin, flexible, and sufficiently slack to accommodate themovement, as seen at 183.

Referring to F168. 7 and 11, the motor frame comprises a rear part 134having sidewardly projecting channels 186, and a forward part 188 whichis of U section and secured to the rear part 184 by four tongue and slotconnections indicated at 1% and 192. The ends of the channels 185 havebearing holes for the pin 156 previously described in connection withFIGS. 2 and 10. Thus the arms are pivoted directly on the ends of thechannels 18-6, and in consequence the entire motor frame turns bodilywith the arms about a horizontal axis when the arms are frictionallychanged in position relative to the torso.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a ring or stepped disc F194 is rotatablymounted in a mating large diameter hole at the side or shoulder portionof the torso. At the opposite side there is a somewhat similar discindicated at 196, and both are slotted at 1538 (FIG. Z-A) to receive thechannels 186 at the ends of the motor frame. Both are also slotted at 2%(FIG. 2A) for freepassage of the connecting rod which moves the armstogether or apart. It is outside these discs that the brackets 154' arepivoted on the end of the frame channels 3%, but the intervening spaceis concealed by a soft ring 292 made of a foam plastic such as urethane,or foam rubber.

The mechanism so far escribed would be operative, but we have improvedit by the provision of a friction clutch mechanism to maintain a uniformdesired degree of friction when manually turning the arms relative tothe torso. In the present case the friction clutch mechanism isassociated with the left arm 2%, but both arms turn in unison with themotor frame and motor, and therefore the friction mechanism could belocated at either arm (or both).

Referring to PEG. 2A, the disc 1% has gear teeth 264 on about half itsperiphery. The teeth mesh with a clutch pinion 2 316, with the latterturning on a pin Edd. The clutch pinion 2% is preferably made of rubberor like frictional material. Referring now to FIG. 2, the pin 2% passesthrough a stationary bearing 21%) and a stationary sheet metal member212. These exert friction on the faces of pinion These parts are alsoshown in FIG. 10.

The sheet metal member 212 also serves a stop function, and for thispurpose it has an arcuate upper edge 214. Reverting to FIG. 2A, thearcuate flange or edge 21 bears slid-ably against the arcuate innersurface 216 of disc 1%. This arcuate surface 216 terminates in stopshoulders 21%, which then limit the permitted rotation of disc 1% toabout a half turn. This similarly limits the turning of the arms 18 and2% (FIG. 1). The flange 214 (FlG. 2A) exerts an additional frictionalbraking effect on the disc 31%.

The head to (FEGS. l and 2) may be rotatable on torso The head may bemolded of forward and back halves which are cemented together inedge-to-edge relation. The arms may be molded of outer and inner sides,which are shown separated for the arm 26 in FIG. 2, and these too may besecured together in edge-to-edge relation. The torso 14 is made of frontand back parts, and in FIG. 2 the back part is shown in solid lines,while the front part is shown far forward in broken lines. It should benoted that the bearing 1% is a split bearing, with half formed on eachpart of the torso. These parts are strongly secured together when thecaps 197 are added. The leg and foot portion of the toy may be formed offront and rear halves, which again may be secured together inedge-to-edge relation. in all cases the halves referred to may be moldedout of a suit-able plastics material, and their attachment may be bymeans of a suitable solvent or cement. Also, in accordance with knownpractice in the plastics and toy arts, the meeting edges may in allcases be provided with minute dowels and dowel holes to insureregistration of the edges when they are being sealed together.

The waist portion may be provided Wi h a short cloth skirt, indicated at24% in FIG. 1, to conceal the pivots and the overlap of the torso andleg portion at that part of the toy.

It is believed that the construction and method of use of our improvedrobot-type figure toy, as well as the advantages thereof, will beapparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also beapparent that, while we have shown and described the invention in apreferred form, changes may be made in the structure shown withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined inthe following claims. in the claims the term waist pivot is used forconvenience, although actually the pivot is located lower than the Waistand at a point corresponding more nearly to the hips.

V573 claim:

l. A figure toy having an upright leg portion on which the figure toy isadapted to stand, a torso, a head, and arms, said torso being pivoted onthe upper end of the leg portion by a horizontal waist pivot for bendingaction, and motor means to cause such bending action, said motor meanscomprising a motor of relatively limited power, a train of speedreduction gearing driven by said motor and terminating in a crank, anangle lever connected to the body and also being longitudinally a '7slotted to receive the pin of the aforesaid crank, therelation of theparts being such' that successive one-half revolutions of the crankcause successive one-quarter revolutions of the angle lever and with itbending of the torso between upright and bent over positions and return,and resilient means exerting a force in that direction which resistsdownward movement and aids upward movement and thereby tends to alignthe torso with the upright leg portion thereby tending to counteract theforce of gravity and the difference in the motor load when lowering andraising the torso.

2. A figure toy having an upright leg portion on which the figure toy isadapted to stand, a torso, a head, and arms, said torso being pivoted onthe upper end of the leg portion by a horizontal waist pivot for forwardbending action, and motor means to cause such bending action, said motormeans comprising a small battery-perated reversible electric motor inthe leg portion, a reversing switch for said motor, a train of highratio speed reduction gearing driven by said motor and terminating in acrank, an angle lever on the waist pivot connected to the torso and alsobeing longitudinally slotted to receive the pin of the aforesaid crank,the relation of the parts being such that successive one-halfrevolutions of the crank in opposite directions cause successiveonequarter revolutions of the vangle lever and with'it bending of thetorso between upright and bent over positions and return, and a torsionspring exerting its torque in that direction which resists downwardmovement and aids upward movement and thereby tends to align the torsowith the upright leg portion, thereby tending to counteract the force ofgravity and the difference in the motor load when lowering and raisingthe torso.

3. A figure toy having a leg portion, a torso, a head, and arms, saidarms being pivotally mounted for movement toward or away from each otherin order to seize or release an object, and motor means to cause suchmovement of the arms, said motor means comprising a small batteryoperated reversible electric motor, a reversing switch for said motor,high ratio speed reduction gearing driven by said motor and terminatingin a double crank with opposed levers, a connecting rod extending fromone lever to one of the arms, a connecting rod extending from the otherlever to the other arm, and a stop to limit motion of the crank with'therods spread apart and the arms spread outward, the said crank and rodlinkage being so constructed that the parts interengage to preventfurther movement and thereby act as a stop when the connecting rodsoverlap to bring the arms together, the total movement or the doublecrank being somewhat less than a half rotation.

4. A figure toy having a leg portion, a torso, a head, and arms, saidarms being pivotally mounted for movement toward or away from each otherin order to seize or release an object, and motor means to cause suchmovement of the arms, said motor means comprising a small batteryoperated reversible electric motor, a reversing switch for said motor,high ratio speed reduction gearing including a worm and worm gear and alost motion connection driven by said motor and terminating in a doublecrank with opposed levers, a connecting rod extending from one lever toone of the arms, a connecting rod extending from the other lever to theother arm, said worm and worm gear serving to maintain the grip of thearms when moved toward one another to seize an object, and'said lostmotion connection permitting the motor to accelerate in one directionafter previously causing a tight grip by rotation in the oppositedirection.

5. A figure toy having a leg portion, a torso, a head,

and arms, a motor frame extending across the torso from one arm to theother at the shoulders, said arms being pivoted on the ends of the framefor movement of the 8 means being bodily rotatable together with thearms about a horizontal axis extending between the shoulder ends of thearms, the arrangement being such that the motor means may operate thearms toward or away from one another regardless of the position of thearms about the horizontal axis.

6. A figure toy having a leg portion, a torso, a head, and arms, a motorframe extending across" the torso from one arm to the other at theshoulders, said arms being pivoted on the ends of the frame for movementof the arms toward or away from one another, motor means carried by themotor frame for moving the arms toward or away from one another, saidmotor frame and motor means being bodily rotatable together with thearms about a horizontal axis extending between the shoulder ends of thearms, friction brake means to frictionally hold the arms and motor framein any desired position about the horizontal axis, the arrangement beingsuch that the motor means may operate the arms toward or away from oneanother regardless of the position of the arms about the horizontalaxis.

7. A figure toy having a leg portion, a torso, a head, and arms, a'motor frame extending across the torso from one arm to the other at theshoulders, said arms being pivoted on the ends of the frame for movementof the arms toward or away from one another, a small reversible motorcarried by the frame, speed reduction gearing driven by said motor andterminating in a double crank with opposed levers, a connecting rodextending from one lever to one of the arms, a connecting rod extendingfrom the other lever to the other arm, large diameter bearings in saidtorso at the shoulders, said bearings being large enough to receive theend portions of the aforesaid motor frame and the connecting rods whichpass through said bearings to reach the arms, said motor frame and motorand the aforesaid mechanisrncarried thereby being bodily rotatabletogether with the arms about a horizontal axis extending between theshoulder ends of the arms, the arrangement being such that the motor mayoperate the arms toward or away'from one another regardless of theposition of the arms about the horizontal axis.

8. A figure toy having a leg 'portion, a torso, a head, and arms, amotor frame extending across the torso from one arm to the other at theshoulders, said arms being pivoted on the ends of the frame for movementof the arms toward or away from one another, a small electric motorcarried by the frame, speed reduction gearing driven by said motor andterminating in a double crank with opposed levers, a connecting rodextending from one lever to one of the arms, a connecting rod extendingfrom the other lever to the other arm, said motor frame and motor andthe aforesaid mechanism carried thereby beingbodily rotatable togetherwith the arms about a horizontal axis extending between the shoulderends of the arm, means to frictionally hold the arms and motor frameassembly in any desired position about the horizontal axis, stop meansto limit the movement of the arms to about one-half revolution betweendownward and upward positions, slack flexible power supply wires leadingto the motor, the arrangement being such that the motor means mayoperate the arms toward or away from one another regardless of theposition of the arms about the horizontal axis.

9. A figure toy having a leg portion, a torso, a head, and arms, a motorframe extending across the torso from one arm to the other at theshoulders, said arms being pivoted on the ends of the frame for movementof the arms toward or away from one another, a small battery operatedreversible electric motor carried by the frame, a reversing switch forsaid motor, high ratio speed reduction gearing including a worm and wormgear and a 10st motion connection driven by said motor and terminatingin a double crank with opposed levers, a connecting rod extending fromone lever to one of the arms, a connecting rod extending from the otherlever to the other arm, said motor frame and motor and the aforesaidmechanism carried thereby being bodily rotatable together with the armsabout a horizontal axis extending between the shoulder ends of the arm,the arrangement being such that the motor means may operate the armstoward or away from one another regardless of the position of the armsabout the horizontal axis, and said worm and worm gear serving tomaintain the grip of the arms when moved toward one another to seize anobject, and said lost motion connection permitting the motor toaccelerate in one direction after previously causing a tight grip byrotation in the opposite direction.

10. A figure toy having an upright leg portion on which the figure toyis adapted to stand, a torso, a head, arms, said torso being pivoted onthe upper end of the leg portion by a horizontal waist pivot for forwardbending action, and motor means to cause such bending action, said motormeans comprising a small battery-operated reversible electric motor anda train of high ratio speed-reduction gearing and linkage driven by saidmotor, a motor frame extending across the torso from one arm to theother at the shoulders, said arms being pivoted on the ends of the framefor movement of the arms toward or away from one another, a smallbattery-operated reversible electric motor carried by the frame, highratio speed-reduction gearing driven by said motor and terminating in adouble crank with opposed levers, a connecting rod extending from onelever to one of the arms, a connecting rod extending from the otherlever to the other arm, said motor frame and motor and the aforesaidmechanism carried thereby being bodily rotatable together with the armsabout a horizontal axis extending between the shoulder ends of the arms,the arrangement being such that the motor means may operate the armstoward or away from one another regardless of t is position of the armsabout the horizontal axis, a hand-held remote control unit connected bya flexi le cable to said figure toy, said control unit containingbattery cells for the motors and having reversing switches for remotecontrol of either motor in either direction.

11. A figure toy having an upright leg portion on which the figure toyis adapted to stand, a torso, a head, and arms, said torso being pivotedon the upper end of the leg portion by a horizontal waist pivot forforward bending action, and motor means to cause such bending action,said motor means comprising a small battery-operated reversible electricmotor in the leg portion, a train of high ratio speed-reduction gearingdriven by said motor and terminating in a crank, an angle lever on thewaist pivot connected to the torso and also being longitudinally slottedto receive the pin of the aforesaid crank, the relation of the partsbeing such that about one-half revolution of the crank causes aboutone-quarter revolution of the angle lever and with it bending of thetorso between upright and bent-over positions, a motor frame extendingacross the torso from one arm to the other at the shoulders, said armsbeing pivoted on the ends of the frame for movement of the arms towardor away from one another, a small battery-operated reversible electricmotor carried by the frame, high ratio speed-reduction gearing includinga worm and worm gear driven by said motor and terminating in a doublecrank with opposed levers, a connecting rod extending from one lever toone of the arms, a connecting rod extending from the other lever to theother arm, aid motor frame and motor and the aforesaid mechanism carriedthereby being bodily rotatable together with the arms about a horizontalaxis extending between the shoulder ends of the arms, the arrangementbeing such that the motor means may operate the arms toward or away fromone another regardless of the position of the arms about the horizontalaxis, and said worm and worm gear serving to maintain the grip of thearms when moved toward one another to seize an object, a hand-heldremote control unit connected by a lb flexible cable to said figure toy,said control unit containing battery cells for the motors and havingreversing switches for remote control of either motor in eitherdirection.

12. A figure toy having an upright leg portion on which the figure toyis adapted to stand, a torso, a head, and arms, said torso being pivotedon the upper end of the leg portion by a horizontal waist pivot forforward bending action, and motor means to cause such bending action,said motor means comprising a small battery-operated reversible electricmotor in the leg portion, a train of high ratio speed-reduction gearingdriven by said motor and terminating in a crank, an angle lever on thewaist pivot connected to the torso and also being longitudinally slottedto receive the pin of the aforesaid crank, the relation of the partsbeing such that successive one-half revolutions of the crank in oppositedirections cause successive one-quarter revolutions of the angle leverand with it bending of the torso between upright and bent-over positionsand return, and a spring exerting its force in that direction whichresists downward movement and aids upward movement and thereby tends toalign the torso with the upright leg portion, a motor frame extendingacross the torso from one arm to the other at the shoulders, said armsbeing pivoted on the ends of the frame for movement of the arms towardor away from one another, a small battery-operated reversible electricmotor carried by the frame, high ratio speed-reduction gearing includinga worm and worm gear driven by said motor and terminating in a doublecrank with opposed levers, a connecting rod extending from one lever toone of the arms, a connecting rod extending from the other lever to theother arm, said motor frame and motor and the aforesaid mechanismcarried thereby being bodily rotatable together with the arms about ahorizontal axis extending between the shoulder ends of the arms, meansto frictionally hold the arms and motor frame assembly in any desiredposition about the horizontal axis, stop means to limit the movement ofthe arms to about one-half revolution between a downward and upwardposition, the arrangement being such that the motor means may operatethe arms toward or away from one another regardless of the position ofthe arms about the horizontal axis, and said worm and worm gear servingto maintain the grip of the arms when moved toward one another to seizean object, a hand-held remote control unit connected by a flexible cableto said figure toy, said control unit containing battery cells for themotors and having reversing switches for remote control of either motorin either direction.

13. A figure toy having an upright leg portion, propulsion meanstherefor, a small battery-operated reversible electric motor for drivingsaid propulsion means, a torso, a head, and arms, said torso beingpivoted on the upper end of the leg portion by a horizontal waist pivotfor forward bending action, and motor means to cause such bendingaction, said motor means comprising a small battery-operated reversibleelectric motor and a train of high ratio speed-reduction gearing drivenby said motor, a motor frame extending across the torso from one arm tothe other at the shoulders, said arms being pivoted on the ends of theframe for movement of the arms toward or away from one another, a smallbattery-operated reversible electric motor carried by the frame, highratio speed-reduction gearing driven by said motor and linked to saidarms, said motor frame and motor and the aforesaid mechanism carriedthereby being bodily rotatable together with the arms about a horizontalaxis extending between the shoulder ends of the arms, the arrangementbeing such that the motor means may operate the arms toward or away fromone another regardless of the position of the arms about the horizontalaxis, a hand-held remote control unit connected by a flexible cable tosaid figure toy, said control unit containing battery cells for themotors and having three reversing switches for remote control of any'ofthe three motors 'in either direction.

pivot for forward bending action, and motor means to cause such bendingaction, said motor means comprising a small battery-operated reversibleelectric motor and a train of high ratio speed-reduction gearing andlinkage driven by said motor, a motor frame extending across the torsofrom one arm to the other at the shoulders, said arms being pivoted onthe ends of the frame for movement of the arms toward or away from oneanother, a small battery-operated reversible electric motor .carried bythe frame, high ratio speed-reduction gearing driven by said motor andterminating in a double crank vwith opposed'levers, a connecting rodextending from one lever to one of the arms, a connecting rod extending.from the other lever to the other arm, said motor frame and rnotor andthe aforesaid mechanism carried thereby being bodily rotatable togetherwith the arms about a horizontal axis extending between the shoulderends of the arms, the arrangement being such that the motor means mayoperatethe arms toward or away from one another regardless of theposition of the arms about the horizontal axis, a hand-held remotecontrol unit con nected by a flexible cable to said figure toy, saidcontrol "unit containing battery cells for the motors and having threereversing switches for remote control of any of the three motors ineither direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DELBERT B. LOWE,Pfimary Examz'ner. RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

2. A FIGURE TOY HAVINGAN UPRIGHT LEG PORTION ON WHICH THE FIGURE TOY ISADAPTED TO STAND, A TORSO, A HEAD, AND ARMS, SAID TORSO BEING PIVOTED ONTHE UPPER END OF THE LEG PORTION BY A HORIZONTAL WAIST PIVOT FOR FORWARDBENDING ACTION, AND MOTOR MEANS TO CAUSE SUCH BENDING ACTION, SAID MOTORMEANS COMPRIISNG A SMALL BATTERY-OP ERATED REVERSIBLE ELECTRIC MOTOR INTHE LEG PORTION, A REVERSING SWITCH FOR SAID MOTOR, A TRAIN OF HIGHRATIO SPEED REDUCTION GEARING DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR AND TERMINATING IN ACRANK, AN ANGLE LEVER ON THE WAIST PIVOT CONNECTED TO THE TORSO ASNDALSO BEING LONTIDUAINALLY SLOTTED TO RECEIVE THE PIN OF THE AFORESAIDCRANK, THE RELATION OF THE PARTS BEING SUCH THAT SUCCESSIVE ONE-HALFREVOLUTIONS OF THE CRANK IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS CAUSE SUCCESSIVEONEQUARTER REVOLUTIONS OF THE ANGLE LEVER AND WITH IT BENDING OF THETORSO BETWEEN UPRIGHT AND BENT OVER POSITIONS AND RETURN, AND A TORSIONSPRING EXERTING ITS TORQUE IN THAT DIRDCTION WHICH RESISTS DOWNWARDMOVEMENT AND AIDS UPWARD MOVEMENT AND THEREBY TENDS TO ALIGN THE TORSOWITH THE UPRIGHT LEG PORTION ,THEREBY TENDING TO COUNTERACT THE FORCE OFGRAVITY AND THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MOTOR LOAD WHEN LOWERING AND RIASINGTHE TORSO.